Do mosquito bites drive you nuts? Try Therapik

As much as we may love Houston, we can’t escape the fact that our town was build on a swamp. Wet land breeds mosquitos, and with them comes the inevitable bites, itching and scratching.

Some folks are more reactive to mosquito bites than others. I’m one of them. When one of these pests bites me, the swelling and itching can be severe. For example, when a mosquito grabs a blood meal from my arm, it doesn’t just itch at the bite spot – the entire limb lights up.

To make matters worse, mosquitos love me. If my wife and I are sitting on the patio and they’re swarming, they’ll chow down on me and leave her untouched. It’s bad enough that, when I know mosquitos are swarming, I avoid being outside.

But the other day, she gave me a present that might just change my relationship with Mother Nature. She bought me a Therapik, a small, inexpensive device that claims to stop the itching and stinging from bug bites instantly.

Of course, I was skeptical. The Therapik looks like a small, cheap remote control with one big, blue button. One end tapers to a point. It costs about $13 and yes, it really works.

When you’re bitten, you place the tip on the bite and push the button, holding it down. This activates a light that generates heat. You keep the tip on the bite as the tip warms, and hold it there for as long as you can tolerate the heat. When you release the button and remove the tip, the itching is gone. In some cases, you may need to do this more than once, but it’s safe to do so.

Why does this work? The heat effectively “cooks” the chemicals that are causing the itch, changing them so they no longer have the irritating effect. I’ve heard that running very hot water on a mosquito bite will do the same thing, as will holding a hot spoon to the bite. But this seems simpler and more efficient.

The instructions at Therapik’s cheesy-looking website indicate it also works on bee, wasp and hornet stings, as well as painful fire ant bites. It also allegedly provides relief from jellyfish stings. I can’t say whether that part is true, and I have no desire to find out. But it’s certainly good to know it’s there for more severe stings if I need it.

Look, I don’t blame you if you’re reading this and saying to yourself, “Yeah, right.” I didn’t think it would work, either. But if you live in Houston and hate mosquito bites as much as I do, it’s worth dropping a mere $13 to find out. You’ll end up a convert, too.

15 Responses

I might have to pick that up. Like you I’m a mosquito magnet. I remember going on a hike with some friends and was getting chowed on like crazy. One of my other friends was marveling how she usually gets bitten by mosquitos and I had to point out to her it was because I was their soup du jour. So is this a mail order item only or do you think the Walgreens would have it?

Thanks Dwight!
I react not quite as badly as you do — hubby not only doesn’t react, but doesn’t get bit! (or it might be that, since he doesn’t get bit, there’s no reaction — not quite sure, hehe)
anyway, this looks like it’s definitely worth the cost.

So let me get this straight -just keep it on the skin untill you cannot tolerate the pain of the burning sensation anymore and presto- no more itch? Brilliant.
Reminds me of the home remedy handed down for centuries – for any paifull injury or condition. Just take out you biggest hammer and smash it down on the end of any digit – fingers toes, doesn’t matter you get to choose. And the original pain, no matter how uncomfortable, immediately goes away – just like that. And even more amazingly – if the original irritant should return- just reapply hammer to toe.
Besides -the very itch of the Mosquito bite serves as a warning and actually a deterrant – prompting you to leave to leave the disease infested area.
You r welcome.

I purchased from Walmart a couple of years ago. They had had 2 for $20. It does work on the mosquitoe bite and ant bites. I pack one for youth sport activities and use it frequently. I do recommend them.

Prevention. Far better than a “cure” and not getting bit is effective against mosquito borne virus of all types. If you are going to be outside and you don’t want to use a deet type product, then look into a ThermaCELL. They work, even for hunters in the deep woods of East Texas. Academy and Wallmart have them; I’m sure many other stores do too.

Something else you may find effective to stop the itch is to dab household ammonia on the bite with a cotton ball. It’ll sting a bit at first but it does work. Ammonia is the active ingredient in those bite sticks you buy at the store. This is particularly good for me with fire-ant stings and it also minimizes the nasty welt the next day. For full disclosure though, it took more than one application the last time I ran into chiggers.

Just a side note. I’ve also heard that a sheet of BOUNCE will also repel mosquitoes. Just attach it to your belt loop or what ever and secure it there.
Also, mosquitoes are attracted to perfume, after shave, and most other fragrances that people tend to wear, as well as dark clothes.